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Another look at downtown Henderson, TX IMG 2975Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Henderson

How is Henderson run?

Henderson’s city government spent $11 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $843 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Texas.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$11.0M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$843
In 2022: $843, less than 63% of 68 similar cities
Long-term debt
$18.4M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
138
full-time · 9 part-time · March payroll $623,554
Typical tax bill
$2,044
1.18% of home value · TX 1.49%

What stands out about how Henderson is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online2 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer31% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Its own police and fire34 sworn officers and 20 full-time firefighters on the payroll.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $2,044 a year: 1.18% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.
★ What stands out · Meetings

2 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Henderson’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2022 budget

About $843 per resident a year, or $2.31 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 31%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 33%Fees & charges 20%Property taxes 17%Utility sales 15%From the federal government 11%Interest, fines & other 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%From the state <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $4.5 million; interest on debt $502,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $17.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$843 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Henderson’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($843 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 68 Texas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $986, and the middle half spent $726–$1,301. Henderson spent less than 63% of them.

Middle half of the group, $726–$1,301Median $986Henderson

Includes sewer and trash ($2.4 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
68

Texas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Henderson itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

Henderson reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,044 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.18% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Texas$4,232
Henderson$2,044
$2,044
typical bill a year
1.18%
effective rate
$173,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Henderson’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Henderson’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Henderson →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Henderson

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See hendersontx.us for Henderson’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Henderson yet.hendersontx.us ↗
Who works for Henderson

One full-time city employee for every 95 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (13,049).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Police43
Fire21
Sewer & trash18
Administration & buildings14 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation13 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries9 + 2 pt
Health & welfare4 + 4 pt
Housing & development5
Water & other utilities5
Courts, inspections & corrections4
Other2
138
full-time
9
part-time
$623,554
payroll for March 2022
$7.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$53,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
34
sworn police officers
20
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Henderson had 10.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 56 of the 68 Texas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.1: Henderson had more than 82% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Henderson Independent School District

Henderson’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Henderson →
$13,851
per pupil · TX $12,815
3,292
students
$28.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,851 per pupil, $7,306 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 45%State 43%Federal 13%

Texas districts overall: 51% local, 36% state, 13% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Henderson’s votes are counted by county

Texas reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Henderson alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Rusk County’s results.

President · Rusk County’s results21,709 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican79.3%17,212 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat19.9%4,327 votes

Others: 0.8% (170 votes).

Most votes in Rusk County: Donald J Trump

Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Henderson lies in Rusk County. Every 2024 race in Rusk County is on the county’s page.

Rusk County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Henderson

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Henderson.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: hendersontx.us ↗
  2. 2
    Texas HouseState representatives
    Joanne Shofner
  3. 3
    Texas SenateState senator
    Bryan Hughes
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Greg Abbott
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Nathaniel Moran
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Texas
    John CornynTed Cruz

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Reach Henderson’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitehendersontx.us ↗

Questions about Henderson’s government

How much does Henderson spend per resident?

About $843 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $843 was less than 63% of 68 Texas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Henderson?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,044 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.18% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see hendersontx.us.

Who runs Henderson’s government?

See hendersontx.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Henderson yet.

How did Henderson vote in 2024?

Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Henderson alone. Rusk County, where 100% of Henderson lies, voted Trump 79.3%, Harris 19.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Henderson?

138 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $623,554 (about $7.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Henderson in the state legislature?

State Senate District 1 (Bryan Hughes) and State House District 11 (Joanne Shofner). The House district also covers 23 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Henderson?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Tuesday, November 17, at 6:00 pm in 300 W. Main Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Henderson’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →